FACT Sheet

Who is responsible for the library?

The Board of Trustees, made up of representatives from the municipalities that comprise the service area.

What is the library's service area?

Seven municipalities make up the service area: the City of Eagle River, and the towns of Lincoln, Washington, Cloverland, St. Germain, Conover, and Arbor Vitae.

How many people live in the service area?

In 2011, Vilas County had a population of 21,457. The library service area would be somewhat less. The population is expected to grow to approximately 25,000 by the year 2030.

How large is the library's circulation?

From 2005 through 2010, yearly adult circulation increased from 41,183 to 56,307.

How many patrons are there?

From 2005 through 2010, the number of registered patrons increased from 5,926 to 7,896.

Do libraries bring economic value to their communities?

Yes! A 2008 study done for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction by NorthStar Economics indicated that statewide, libraries had contributed $753,699,545 to the state's economy. For each dollar of taxpayer investment, $4.06 was returned.

What are the major issues with the current library?

Collections are just 2/3 of what they should be.Spaces are cramped with narrow aisles; shelving goes awkwardly to floor level.Circulation desk is small and crowded; only one check-in/check-out station.Sightlines are restricted; monitoring is difficult.Director's office is poorly located and inadequate.Too few computer stations; Wi-Fi signal often overloaded.Community room is too small and used for needed storage; holds only 1/2 of authorized 35 persons.Programming areas throughout are limited.Restrooms are too few, too small, and non-ADA compliant.Limited off-street parking.The roof leaks.

How much does it cost to run the library?

Approximately $224,000 per year.

How much will it cost to run the expanded library?

The library is designed to run with the same number of staff professionals. There are 34 Volunteers who help run the library; and there is a waiting list to join. Between insurance costs and utilities, computer modeling forecasts a modest 3.7% increase in expenses.

How is the library funded?

Every year the individual municipalities contract with the library for services and are charged a fee. The fee is based on circulation/usage of their citizens who use the library.

Will it have a basement?

How much will the project cost?

Approximately $2.35 million, down from the Durrant design of $3.26 million.

Why wasn't renovation and expansion considered originally, versus building new?

It was. However, the Durrant plan would have required an expensive relocation for an extended period of time; and Durrant could not design the expansion without the use of flat roofs.

How is the Visner plan different?

Design/Build by Visner did a detailed investigation of the facility and found it solid. It can be enlarged and renovated without having to move. Mr. Visner used and enhanced the original architecture. There are no flat roofs.

When was the library built?

Planning began in 1977 and construction was completed in 1980.

What was the cost of the library in 1980?

Project cost totaled approximately $465,000.00.

Who was Walter E. Olson?

Owner of the Olson Rug Company in Chicago. Owned a summer home in St. Germain.

How much did Mr. Olson donate to the library building project?

Surprise: zero. The Walter E. Olson Foundation donated $350,000 to the project five years after his death.

Does the W.E. Olson Foundation still exist?

No. It ceased operations and was dissolved in 1980. The Olson's had no surviving children or grandchildren.